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Post by theengineshed on Jul 31, 2022 12:21:56 GMT -8
Broadway Limited has another run of their centipedes out. Demonstrators, UP, NdeM, PRR, and SAL. I'd have picked up a UP unit, but they are only sold in pairs, and I don't need two. Maybe someone will split a set on ebay. I picked up SAL 4500, it had the citrus scheme when delivered. Of course the BLI 'pede is a PRR carbody which takes a bit of work to get it to match the standard Seaboard carbodies. 4500 is even more work, more carbody differences. It will be a fun project to convert the prototype 4500 and keep the existing paint. Of course, BLI used Seaboard's "RAILROAD" herald on the nose, not "RAILWAY", so that will certainly have to go. I'm not a big BLI diesel fan, but I do love those centipedes...  Baldwin Centipedes Demonstrator and Seaboard by Pete Piszczek, on Flickr |
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Post by Baikal on Jul 31, 2022 13:37:32 GMT -8
Broadway Limited has another run of their centipedes out. Demonstrators, UP, NdeM, PRR, and SAL. I'd have picked up a UP unit, but they are only sold in pairs, and I don't need two. Maybe someone will split a set on ebay.
Glad to see they did the as-deliverd NdeM paint scheme. Repainted they were used as helpers in later years (as were PRR's). The last three were operating into 1971.
A UP A-B-A hump power set would look great.
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Jul 31, 2022 14:26:04 GMT -8
I've bought something from every BLI Centipede release to date. This release had what I've been awaiting a long time, the SAL Citrus Scheme. Would like to add an original NdeM scheme later if still available.
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Post by es80ac on Jul 31, 2022 16:06:02 GMT -8
Is there any updates to this release of the centipedes other than the sound maybe?
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Post by theengineshed on Jul 31, 2022 17:34:59 GMT -8
Is there any updates to this release of the centipedes other than the sound maybe? Stay alive caught my eye... |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Aug 1, 2022 3:40:20 GMT -8
Had three of the original in Pennsy and a Demo set. Pretty impressive looking but I found them difficult to operate on even the slightest elevation in track profile as the long wheelbase was to rigid and lost traction. Was able too move them along on ebay.
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Post by middledivision on Aug 1, 2022 7:13:32 GMT -8
^^^
They require flat, perfect rack. And until Broadway offers DCC Ready units, I'm out. We had a brand new Paragon 4 steam engine melt the shell at my club.
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Post by markfj on Aug 1, 2022 10:18:41 GMT -8
This question may be a bit off topic, but is BLI still using this motor? This is a BLI L1:  Correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks a lot like a Mabuchi toy motor similar to the ones used in the initial release of the Bowser Alcos. I currently don't own any BLI locomotives, but was planning on getting one eventually. I saw a video of someone installing a sound decoder in an L1 on a recent YouTube video and was surprised at how "jerky" the movement of the locomotive was. Then I saw the motor and thought that might be part of the problem. Thanks, Mark J. Reading, PA |
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Post by jonklein611 on Aug 1, 2022 11:05:32 GMT -8
This question may be a bit off topic, but is BLI still using this motor? This is a BLI L1: Correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks a lot like a Mabuchi toy motor similar to the ones used in the initial release of the Bowser Alcos. I currently don't own any BLI locomotives, but was planning on getting one eventually. I saw a video of someone installing a sound decoder in an L1 on a recent YouTube video and was surprised at how "jerky" the movement of the locomotive was. Then I saw the motor and thought that might be part of the problem. Thanks, Mark J. Reading, PA More than likely it's their own decoder / back emf design. Plenty of BLI models getting re decodered on the ESU group and performing well. Here's a motor from one of their models: www.broadway-limited2.com/support/How%20To%20Add%20a%20GoPack%20to%20a%20GP20.pdfwww.broadway-limited2.com/support/HO%20Scale%20ES44%20GoPack%20Installation.pdf |
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Post by theengineshed on Aug 1, 2022 15:10:37 GMT -8
^^^ They require flat, perfect rack. And until Broadway offers DCC Ready units, I'm out. We had a brand new Paragon 4 steam engine melt the shell at my club. Agreed I'm not a fan of BLI 'lectronics. I'd buy DCC ready if I could. But really, where else are you going to get a plastic DR-12-8-1500/2? That said, they operate fine on a large rough and tumble railroad. A pair of 'pedes can handle 30+ car trains, no problems even on helixes. They do not require flat perfect track, but I'm sure that helps. I usually tuck an FT set in behind a single 'pede. The problem I have had with long trains as they tend to pull the end of the rear 'pede off on sharpish curves or just uncouple the unit from the train. Shelf Kadees really help here, I use them between the units and on the rear unit. That pilot does look silly on curves though, even generous ones...  Seaboard Centipedes CB&W by Pete Piszczek, on Flickr That helix-  CB&W Helix-A Nov 2014 by Pete Piszczek, on Flickr |
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Post by lvrr325 on Aug 1, 2022 16:28:00 GMT -8
So the pilot swings with the trucks like a Lionel O27 engine?
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Post by theengineshed on Aug 1, 2022 17:31:01 GMT -8
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Post by slowfreight on Aug 3, 2022 15:16:38 GMT -8
That last picture makes me wonder what it would have sounded like to have those things blast past at full throttle. |
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Post by drsvelte on Aug 3, 2022 17:33:45 GMT -8
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Post by es80ac on Aug 4, 2022 8:28:53 GMT -8
My question would be how accurate or inaccurate the BLI sound will be? Given there is none of the centipedes and very few operational Baldwins left
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Post by theengineshed on Aug 4, 2022 13:48:41 GMT -8
My question would be how accurate or inaccurate the BLI sound will be? Given there is none of the centipedes and very few operational Baldwins left The new 'pede has arrived, but I have not had a chance to compare the Paragon 4 sound quality with the older Paragon 3 units. BLI Baldwin noise-makers are not nearly as good as lok sound Baldwins, based on past experience. That said, the BLI sound is OK, just don't switch back and forth between the two for comparison, or you will be unhappy!  The centipedes had a pair of 608 prime movers in them. There are still operational Baldwins with turbo 608s, you really only need one for a good recording... |
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Post by markfj on Aug 5, 2022 3:50:26 GMT -8
This photo with caption is from a post made by Bill Volkmer over on the PRR group. If you have even a slight interest in the Pennsy, the PRR group is a great resource for information and technical data on just about anything related to the railroad.  Thanks, Mark J. Reading, PA |
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Post by drsvelte on Aug 5, 2022 6:02:01 GMT -8
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Post by riogrande on Aug 5, 2022 7:30:18 GMT -8
I stumbled onto this youtube video on Baldwin Centipedes.
It was interesting to watch if you can tolerate the narrator.
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Post by lvrr325 on Aug 5, 2022 9:53:07 GMT -8
I learned something here, I guess you can file that away in the "there's a prototype for everything" department.
Last year at one show a seller was dumping DVDs cheap and I got "The Kosin Collection" vol 1-4. I'll have to look again but Vol. 1 has some scenes at Horseshoe Curve and at least one of these makes an appearance. I'm remembering it as running with two F-units but I don't think that's right because I don't think they'd M/U together.
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Aug 5, 2022 10:09:48 GMT -8
I stumbled onto this youtube video on Baldwin Centipedes. It was interesting to watch if you can tolerate the narrator. Sort of shrill, but a good number of photos of them I'd not seen before. |
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Post by riogrande on Aug 5, 2022 10:11:33 GMT -8
That's one way of putting it!
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Post by theengineshed on Aug 5, 2022 16:29:03 GMT -8
Last year at one show a seller was dumping DVDs cheap and I got "The Kosin Collection" vol 1-4. I'll have to look again but Vol. 1 has some scenes at Horseshoe Curve and at least one of these makes an appearance. I'm remembering it as running with two F-units but I don't think that's right because I don't think they'd M/U together. The air throttles were standard on Baldwin diesels, but Baldwin offered an electric throttle as an option. I believe the PRR pedes kept their original air throttles and were never modified to electric throttles. It is quite possible that the F-units had a second crew and were not MUing with the single pede for pusher service. The Seaboard Air Line fitted electric throttles to their pedes. Made for wonderful Baldwin, Alco, and EMD lash-ups. |
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Post by lvrr325 on Aug 5, 2022 16:56:29 GMT -8
PRR did have Baldwins that could M/U but they were the three sharks they rebuilt with Alco 251 prime movers. One of which actually existed into this century turned into a large mobile generator.
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